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Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Stetson University: Hulley Tower

Chaudion Hall and
Hulley Tower

Stetson University is the
oldest private run college in Florida. It was originally named DeLand Academy
after its’ founder, Henry DeLand in 1883. He also founded the town of DeLand
where this university is located.

Within a few years of its’
founding the school experienced financial hardship when Henry DeLand’s citrus
crops were destroyed in a freeze. He brought in partners to keep his academy
afloat.

One of these partners was a
hat-maker from Philadelphia named John B. Stetson. In 1889, the school was
renamed “Stetson” after this benefactor.

Stetson
University was given the money for a bell tower in 1934 by one of the college’s
professors. Dr. Lincoln Hulley was a graduate of Harvard. He taught mathematics and
engineering at Stetson and later became the Universities’ longest running
president from 1902 till his death in 1934 from a heart attack.

During
his tenure he was an exceptional teacher and a brilliant scholar who was a
prolific author of books and plays. He was a popular president who put
Stetson on the map. Under his guidance the university gained both students and
accreditation.

Dr.
Hulley was also an ordained minister.

Dr. Lincoln Hulley
Stetson's second president

Hulley Tower with
double door leading
to crypt.

Hulley Tower not only holds
the school’s eleven chimes that announce special events on campus it has a
large room at its base that contains a crypt. This elegant mausoleum is the
final resting place for Dr. Hulley and his wife Eloise who died in 1959, 25
years after her husband.

A well-known story that is
told on the Stetson campus is about Dr. Hulley and Eloise’s ghosts.

These two are seen taking
nocturnal walks.

They are spotted walking arm
in arm on the grass that surrounds the bell tower. Their little white terrier
is seen accompanying them.

Students and professors also
report seeing this elusive couple near the campus gym and fountain at night. There
are many stories of witnesses pursuing this couple only to find them gone.

Stetson University's fountain

Residents of the town also
report seeing this ghostly couple on their lawns across the street from Stetson.

One resident of DeLand while
walking his dog late one night spotted an elderly couple peering into a large
fountain near a popular campus restaurant directly across from the school.

As he approached them his dog
pulled on his leash. His pet tried to head in the opposite direction. It took
him only moments to settle his dog down but when he looked back up to say “hello”
the couple by the fountain was gone.

He scanned the area but he
saw no other people within blocks.

Ghost hunters that have
investigated these reports have had their own experiences. A strong scent of
flowers is noticed on the sidewalk near the tower and they have felt someone
watching them.